NATO's future

This week I attended a seminar on 3D in the Hague, the Netherlands. 3D is a now famous concept that wishes to combine the works of Defence, Diplomacy and Development in the best possible way in conflict areas. At this conference I was hoping to be informed on the successes of 3D and the development this concept had gone through in the latter years, but to my surprise and sadness the most confusion was araised about what the concept really is, who 'owns' it and which country executes in the best way.

Please let me say this: Nobody 'owns' 3D, it is not a model or a template that can be executed in every conflict siutuation or area and 3D is so much more than the 3 D's that we were talking about. One of the speakers, a former commander of a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan was clearly upset about all the other politicians, diplomats, historians who were present as speakers at this seminar. He was the only one who really kwew what it was all about: an holistic approach. 3D is at least another few more D's and the rest of the alfabet in order to assist, develop, help, educate, safeguard, listen, and a whole lot more at the service of the Afghan people. Because these people is what it is all about: to make them proud of their own lives and own country.

I was glad to know that this Dutch commander, who was really executing the 3D concept had been to Afghanistan and was working there, and not the other speakers.